INTERACTION BETWEEN A LIQUID LAYER AND VIBRATING PLATES: APPLICATION TO THE DISPLACEMENT OF LIQUID DROPLETS

Various experiments have been performed to study the interaction of a liquid layer and vibrating plates. A liquid layer deposited on a vibrating plate exhibits a deformation of the surface with a high amplitude of vibration (larger than 1 μm at 30kHz). Furthermore, a water droplet placed on the vibrating plate moves towards an antinode of vibration. These non-linear phenomena are explained by the action of acoustic radiation pressure. An application to the displacement of droplets is presented.